Catch a Crayfish, Count the Stars by Steven Rinella

A hands-on, gloves-off, muddy boots activity book for young adventurers ages 8 and up, offering fun projects and adventures to build lifelong skills and knowledge about the natural world—from the host of MeatEater and New York Times bestselling author of The MeatEater Guide to Wilderness Skills and Survival

Does climbing a tree, building a bug hotel, spearing a bullfrog, stalking wild animals, and scouting for petrified wood sound more fun than homework or chores? If so, this guide is your perfect companion to endless summer days and rainy fall afternoons alike. Filled with advice, insights, and activities to inspire wonder and excitement about the natural world, Catch a Crayfish, Count the Stars is a curious kid’s treasure trove, filled to the brim with outdoor projects, skills, and adventures complete with illustrations. The book presents a ton of fun and exciting ways to explore the natural world, like:



building an outdoor exploration kit

identifying constellations and navigating using the sun and stars

collecting fossils and other geological wonders

tracking animals and following weather patterns

making your own compass

growing your own fruits and vegetables

Building survival shelters and primitive hunting weapons

fishing, hunting, and foraging for wild foods

making cool art projects using natural materials


A must-have guide for budding naturalists, scientists, gardeners, anglers, foragers, and hunters, Catch a Crayfish, Count the Stars helps get kids out into nature,imparting lifelong knowledge and skills along the way.

Steven Rinella is an outdoorsman, writer, wild foods enthusiast, and television and podcast personality who is a passionate advocate for conservation and the protection of public lands. Rinella is the host of the television show and podcast MeatEater; his last two books are the New York Times bestsellers Outdoor Kids in an Inside World and The MeatEater Guide to Wilderness Skills and Survival. His writing has appeared in many publications, including Outside, Field & Stream, and The New Yorker. Rinella lives in Bozeman, Montana, with his wife and their three kids.

Author Residence: Bozeman, MT

Author Hometown: Twin Lakes, MI